Through what Benjamin could only describe as a miracle, he and Eluzan stumbled upon some berries they could eat. It wasn't much, but it was better than starving.
"So, do you have any idea where we are, O' great god of mine?"
"None that matters. And you're lucky that I'm not a strict god. Others could have you flogged for such a blasphemous tone."
"Good for them. But was your plan to make me your avatar and then have us both wander around this forest until I starve to death?"
"Of course not. I brought you here because there is a dungeon nearby."
Benjamin frowned. Yet another new concept.
"A dungeon?"
"It has many names, really. But it's a trial, I guess you could call it. In short, clearing dungeons is one of the fastest ways to accumulate achievements and grow stronger."
"This growing stronger thing…Do you mean literally?"
Eluzan looked Benjamin in the eyes.
"I had a feeling when I didn't smell any blood on you. But you have only known peace, haven't you?"
"...I guess."
"In that case, the other gods and your classmates should be the least of your concerns. The only thing you should think about right now is your survival. From what I can see, there is one thing that separates our two worlds more than anything else."
"What?"
"The solidity of limits."
Benjamin sighed.
"...And what's that supposed to mean?"
Eluzan paused for a moment. This wasn't something that he could just leave for Benjamin to understand later on. It was something he needed to understand to survive. Fortunately, it wasn't something that required an explanation as long as a human's lifespan. It was just that Benjamin might not understand if he didn't give a good explanation.
"Since I do not know what kind of world you come from, I can only theorize. But…"
Eluzan looked around before finding a suitable, moss-covered boulder some distance away."
"If I asked you to move that boulder…"
Eluzan looked at Benjamin, waiting for him to finish the sentence.
"I would ask why."
Eluzan gave Benjamin a blank stare.
"Does your world not respect your gods or what?"
"I don't think we have any."
"Nonsense. But putting that aside. Let's assume you decide to stop the snarkiness. How would you react if you had to move that boulder?"
Benjamin shrugged.
"I would give up, I guess. I can't do it myself. And I don't have any money, so I can't hire someone else to do it for me."
"Ah, another point. You have to do it yourself."
Benjamin shook his head.
"That's impossible. Even if I trained for a decade, I wouldn't even be able to make it wiggle."
The boulder was twice as tall as Benjamin and as wide as five trees. Even if it didn't weigh a metric ton, it wouldn't be far off. Benjamin could never lift it.
Eluzan nodded as if that was the answer he had expected.
"From what I can tell, that's the key difference between our two worlds."
Benjamin raised an eyebrow and waited for Eluzan to continue.
"In your world…"
"Earth."
"On Earth, it would be impossible, no matter how much you trained, according to you. In other words, the limit of your strength is solid and unbreakable. Under the right circumstances, you'll get far. But you won't break through the inherent limit of your existence. You following?"
Benjamin just looked at Eluzan. It wasn't a strange concept. If anything, it was perfectly reasonable. No matter how much a human or any other being on Earth trained, for that matter, they wouldn't be able to break the laws of physics or biology. But what had Benjamin's heart beating in a frenzy was the insinuation that the laws of reality were different on Arthea.
"...Are you saying Arthea doesn't have those limits?"
Eluzan shook his head.
"That's not it. Limits like those are inherent to every being. But the limits on Arthea are softer, and Arthea has a way of breaking through those limits."
Benjamin's eyes lit up in realization.
"Achievements."
"Exactly."
"By combining the accumulation of achievements and training, I can become strong enough to move boulders with my bare hands. Is that what you're saying?"
Eluzan smiled.
"That is only the beginning, my avatar. Why stop at boulders? Why not hills, mountains, or the world?"
Eluzan's smile turned into a smug look.
"You are the one and only avatar of the great Black Fox God. Not even the sky will restrain us."
Benjamin couldn't help but feel a little excited about being strong enough to lift that boulder. He had a hard time envisioning anything more than that. But even that kind of strength would be enough to pummel Rydell into the ground.
Benjamin's expression darkened.
"My classmates aren't, by any chance, excluded from this system?"
"No. So if you don't want to get left behind and squashed like a bug by that classmate of yours in the future, I suggest we get a move on."
Benjamin nodded. First, once with a meek expression, and then again with determination.
If Rydell got strong, he just had to get stronger. The deck might be stacked against Benjamin since he was trapped in a random forest with Eluzan while Rydell had the support of the chief god's empire.
But Benjamin didn't let that dissuade him. It wasn't that different from their lives on Earth. The only difference was that Benjamin had found a way to fight back that wouldn't end with him a bleeding and bruised mess in the dumpsters behind the school.
Benjamin followed Eluzan toward the dungeon with anticipation. However, as he was deep in thought, he realized something.
"Eluzan, didn't you say a god can only have one avatar? Why did you make such a big deal out of me being your one and only avatar?"
"..."
"Eluzan?"
"..."
"Eluzan, are you scamming me right now?"
"..."
"Did you lie to me or are you insecure?"
"..."
"...I want a refund."
"..."
"And I'm leaving a bad review."